FINCHforum

Has anyone tried using the vacuum sealing foo storage systems for preserving seed? I know freezing or refrigeration is recommended for storing quantities of seed for longer periods, but I don't have freezer space for that. I am considering investing in one of the vacuum seal machines, to portion out seed (say a month's worth). But I am curious if anyone knows if this would have an effect on bugs and other things that like to ruin bird seed.

Freezing seed will kill off any moths or bugs. I know Candace and other members chimed in on another topic thread a long time ago in regards to freezing seed. Many people do it, I have in the past along with freezing Roudybush. Vacuum sealing is a great idea.

I vaccuum seal my seed all the time.
Being as how I always order multiple bags of 20 lbs, I measure out enough for 3 hopper fulls and prepare a bag for this amount. This way if only one hopper needs to be refilled, I know that it won't stay out for very long before I use it up. No bugs can get in, and it smells fresh from the bag as soon as I open it.

lovemyfinch wrote:I vaccuum seal my seed all the time.
Being as how I always order multiple bags of 20 lbs, I measure out enough for 3 hopper fulls and prepare a bag for this amount. This way if only one hopper needs to be refilled, I know that it won't stay out for very long before I use it up. No bugs can get in, and it smells fresh from the bag as soon as I open it.

Janine, do you put it in the freezer first, or just vacuum seal it right away? Also, do you have a particular brand or model you would recommend?

I was not aware we should be storing unopened seed mixes in the freezer. How long can we keep bags of seed before they are not fresh or safe to feed to our finches? I have mine in a box in the bird room underneath the flights until I need more. Should I be freezing these extra bags until they're needed?

It's not that the seed won't be fresh by the time you use it (since they only harvest seeds once a year and package it and sell it all year long until the harvest the next year); but freezing will kill any bugs and prevent new bugs from entering/hatching. Moths in particular are more than happy to live and breed in the seeds (read infestation), so large quantities of seed should be kept frozen until needed.